Corn-planter.



No. 806,032 PATENTED ov. 28, 1905.

.W. H. WERTZ & A. 0:. WARNER;

' 001m PLANTER 3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

APPLI CATiON FILED 0016,1902. I

No. 806,032. PATENTED NOV. 28, 1905.

W. H. WERTZK; A. 0. WARNER. CORN PLANTBR! APPLICATION FILED our. 6,1902.

I 3 SHEETS SHEET 2.

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a? Q \\1\\ mam 7 /6 7f /9 Midi]? 4 formed with extensions of the same acting as UN TE STATES WILLIAM .H. WERTZ, ELMWOOD, AND ALBERT O. WARNER, OF PEORIA, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNORS OF ONE-HALF TO JAMES D. PUTNAM, OF ELM- WOOD, ILLINOIS.

PATENT OFFICE.

CORN-PLANTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 28,1905.

Application filed October 6, 1902. Serial No. 126,182.

To all Mill/0777 7115 may concern.-

ria. in the county of Peoria and State of Illinois, citizens of the United States, have invented-certain new and useful Improvements in Corn-Planters; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in' the art to which it appertains 'to make and'use the same.

. This invention has reference to a cornplanter; and the improvement herein relates to the seed-dropping devices thereof.

The aim of the invention is to provide a simple but effective dropping device wherein it is designed by one motion of the droppingplate to drop three kernels out of three separate cells or'seed-cups or two or one, as may be desired, accomplished through and by the" movement of a valveplate controlling the egress of kernels of corn through the cells of the seed-plate.

The invention has for its further object the handling of kernels of corn both edgewise and flat, the seed-plate havingannular channels or feedways formed by the arrangement of a series of rings and a portion of said channels contracted by the interposition of spacingplates supported in said channel-ways and between the rings, the top edges of the rings agitators. v The inventlon further consists of a cut-off and knocker of one piece, of which three are employed or two or one, as may be desired,

according to the number of rows of cells being used for dropping, the said knocker and cut-offs being suspended from a tower-plate and in the channelsformed by the rings of the seed-plate and coacting with the seedcups of the plate, as they are coincident, and the said cut-offs and knockers are held in their normal positions by springs.

Other and various important features of invention are employed in the construction of our device, all of which will be more fully described in'the specification following and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof, in which- Figure 1 is a plan view of our invention, illustrating the same assembled in operative relation.- Fig. 2 is a cross-section of Fig. 1 0n the line X X, also showing the hopper in section and attached to the hopper-base. Fig. 3 is a cross-section on the line Y Y of Fig. 1 and is a view similar to Fig. 2. Fig. tie a section through the hopper-base, seed-plate, and tower-plate, showing the arrangement of the single-piece knocker and cut-off. Fig. 5

is a plan view, reduced in size, of the cap-plate,

showing the filling-rings" and the plan of supporting the series of single-piece cut-offs and knockers. Figs. 6 and 7 show, respectively, a cross-section and plan, reduced, of the seedplate; and Figs. 8 and 9 show, respectively, a cross-section and plan, reduced, of the hopper-base. I

In the figures, 1 designates a hopper-base having the annular-shaped extension 2,p'roviding the outer horizontal flange portion 3,

and 4 is a centrally-disposed tubular extension of the base, provided with an opening 5. To the base issuitably attached and supported a hopper 6. (Shown in eross-section in Figs. 2'and3 suflicient to illustrate the relation of the hopper-base and hopper to the operative parts of our device assembled therein and supported by the base.)

7 indicates a seed-dropping plate with a central opening 8 adapting the same to the extension 4 of the hopper-base and around which it rotates, the plate lying on the annular extension of the base andprovided with a ringgear 9, lying above the outer flange portion 3 of the base.

10 refers to a bevel-gear intermeshing with the ring-gear 9 of the seed-plate, the same I passing up through an opening 11 in the base 1 and is carried on a shaft 12, having a bearing beneath the hopper in the planter-frame,

if necessary, and the said shaft; as will be understood, extends across the planter-frame and carries a gear similar to 10 upon its opposite end purposed to engage and rotate the plate in the oppositely-arranged hopper. The shaft 12 has a predetermined movement imparted thereto through suitable drivingdevices (not shown) whereby the seed-dropping plate may be partially rotated for bringing into position simultaneously two or more cells or cups of in the opening 13 and movable therein in such a manner as to bring the upper face of the part 16 flush with the upper face of the base 1. The valve is pivoted to the base at 17, and the face of the valve-plate at this point is serrated at 18, matching a serrated part 19 of the base, so that when the valve-plate is adjusted it is locked and prevented from becoming dislodged. This valve facilitates in controlling the egress of corn-kernels from the seed-plate through the discharge 13 of the base, the latter lying above the opening into a planter-shank and is designed to discharge corn-kernels therein.

Referring to the said plate 7, the same is provided with a series of vertically-extended annular rings 20, 20, and 20", the rings 20 and 20 disposed on the body of the plate within the circle described by the ring 20, and the ring 20 is removed some distance within the circle bounded by the outer edge of the plate, as shown. There is designed to be three of these rings, spaced a suitable distance from each other, and the face of each ring is beveled, as shown at 21. Located in the plate proper and in circumferential and transverse lines therein and within the channels formed by the arrangement of the rings is shown seed cells or cups 22, elongated circumferentially.

23 indicates a cap-plate having an annularshaped body part 24 and the annular ring 25, the ring 25 bearing around the outer ring 20 of the series of rings on the seed-plate and lies adjacent thereto, and the same has the rounded or beveled upper part, the outer edge of which engages with or abuts against the wall of the hopper, and the said ring is sup ported by and is made a part of the body part 24 through the arches 26 and the reaches 27 27 K The body part 24, together with the ring 25, projects up above the upper edges of the rings 20 of the plate, and suspended from the arches 26 and the reach 27 and extending approximately three-quarters the way around the plate are filling plates or rings 28, lying between the Walls formed by the rings 20, 20, and 20 and adjacent to theouter walls of the rings 20 and 20. The body of the plates between their supports is not as high as the rings with which they are coadjacent. In placing the plates in this manner they partially overlie the cells or cups in the seedplate as the same are rotated beneath the filling plates or rings and contract the channel formed by the plates and rings of the seed-plate to facilitate as the corn-kernels dcscend in the hopper to conduct and deliver the kernels on edge. The channel between the rings and filling-plates being only wide enough for the kernals to enter between the same on edge, the bevel wall of the rings aids materially in keeping the kernels from wedging and, further, by being kept in motion through the agency of a series of agitators formed on the upper edges of therings 2O 2O 20" by cutting out portions of their edges at 20. leaving extended portions of the rings 20 to engage the corn-kernels as the same are rotated.

The outside wall of the part- 24 is of such a diameter as to serve the purpose of a fillingplate 28, covering a portion of the cells or cups of the seed-plate lying within the ring 20 that passes thereunder, and at a point where the filling-plates begin and leave elf the outer wall of the body 24 is cut away, as at 29, to leave open the entire width of the channels between the ring 2O on the seedplate and the wall described. In the intervening space above the plate left vacant by the filling-plates and outer wall of the cap 23 we design to arrange our combined one-piece cut-off and knocker 34.

30 is a tower-plate and, together with the cap-plate 23, is supported in a fixed position relative to the seed-plate which revolves. The cap-plate rests upon the extension 4 of the base, and 31 is a bolt which passes up through the opening 5 in the base, an opening 32in the cap-plate, and through the towerplate, and is held in a fixed position on the base by means of a nut 33.

The knocker and cut-off, referred to as of one piece, is designated as 34, having the arch 35, the rear end extension 36, the cut-off shoe 37, and the knocker portion 38. There being three channels on the plate formed by the rings of the plate and wall of the cap-plate 23 and the series of rows of seed cups or cells in the plate, we employ three of these combined one-piece cut-offs and knockers. fore placing on the cap-plate the cut-off and knockers are placed in position, the arches 35 overhanging the reach 27, forming a pivot, and the extensions 36 resting on the reach 27. (See Fig. 4.) This places the lower edge of the reach on the floor of the channels of the seed-plate, the shoes 37 covering the seed-cells and .the knocker portions 38 coacting with the cells, as they are coincident in manner shown in Fig. 4, forcing the kernels through the discharge-openings in the hopperbase. 39 refers to coil-springs, of

which there are three bearing between the upper faces of the knocker and cut-ofls and engaging the inner face of the towerplate. This arrangement of one-piece knocker and cut-off and the springs retains them in norand cut-offs.

mal position in the channels of the plate, and

yet flexible enough to give as the knockers are brought into play and to hold the cut-offs to their work. The cut-olfs extend around .part way in the channels, but do not extend cells flat or edge wise and to take care of round or long kernels and insures that when acell passes from the knocker toward the cut-off if perchance no kernel drops into the passing cells they will take the kernels at this point or openway between the ends of the filling-plates and front ends of the knocker In this way it is insured that if three cells are open there will be dropped three kernels or if the valve has been adjusted to cut off one row of cells there will be plates supported between "the rings and carseries of annular rings, their upper edges hav-' described.

ried adjacent to the face thereof to form a contracted channel between the same, substantially as described.

2. In a corn-planter, the combination of a seed-plate, having a series of annular rings, a series of rows of seed-cups in said plates, and a cap-plate having an annular ring carried adjacent to the outer wall of the outer ring and a series of spacing-plates supported between the rings of the 3. A seed-plate for corn-planters, having a series of annular rings extendedfrom its upper face, the outer ring removed within the circle bounded by the edge of the plate, and each ring having cut-out portions in their upper edges, substantially as described.

4:. A seed-plate for corn-planters, having a ing cut-out portions forming agitators, and the inner faces of said rings beveled, substantially as described.

5. A seed-plate for corn-planters, having a series of annular rings, their upper edges having cut-out portions, leaving intermediate eX- tended portions of said rings as shown, and their inner-faces beveled, in combination with seed-cupsarranged in the body of the plate and between the rings, substantially as described.

6. In a seed-planter, the combination of a seed-plate, substantially as seed-plate having a series of annular rings, seed-cups spaced between the rings, and plates supported between the rings, substantially as described.

7. In a corn-planter, the combination of a seed-plate having annular feedways, formed by a series of rings, and a portion of said channels contracted by the interposed spacing-plates suitably supported in said channelwaysand between the rings, substantially as described.

8. In a corn-planter, the combination of a seed-plate having a series of annular rings separating a series of seed-cups, spacingplates supported between the rings and overlying theseed-cups and forming contracted openings thereof, the rings of theplate revoluble therewith and the spacing-plates stationary, substantially as described.

9. In a corn-planter, and in combination substantially as described, a seed-plate having aseries of annular rings projecting upwardly, separating a series of rows of circumferentially-arranged seed-cups, a series of filling-plates supported between the aforesaid rings and extending only a part way around the channel formed by said rings, said fillingplates adapted to contract the seed-cup openings in said plate and serve as a feeder to conduct and deliver grain or seed on edge from the supply to the seed-cup.

10. In a corn-planter, and in combination substantially as described, a seed-plate having a series of annular rings projecting upwardly and forming circumferential seedways between the same, seed-cups arranged in series oppositely to each other and in the channel formed by therings, and a series of filling-plates supported by a cap-plate and supported between the rings to contract the channel-ways formed by the rings which will only admit grain edgewise between thewalls formed by the rings and filling-plates and feed said grains edgewise to the seed-cups in the plate.

11. In a corn-planter. the combination of a seed-plate, having its seed-cups elongated circumferentially and in a series, annular rings of the plates lying between said seed-cups,

lar rings :of the plate forming seedways, supplemental rings extended down into the channels formed by said rings, adapted to contract the seedways where the rings and plates are coadjacent and three cut-offs lying between the rings and coacting with the seedcups of the plate as they are brought coincident, substantially as described.

.13. In a corn-planter, a seed-plate having seed-cups elongated circumferentially,'a series of channels formed on the plate by a series of upwardly extended annular rings, fillingplates interposed between the walls of the channels formed by the said rings, and suitable cut-ofis and knockers disposed over the seed-cups and between the ends of the fillingplates, substantially as described.

14:. In a corn-planter, aseed-plate revoluble on a hopper-base, having seed-cups elongated circumferentially in the plate and arranged in series of three rows, a valve operatively carried Within a discharge-opening in the base, channel-ways formed on the plate by a series of annular rings, and means for contracting. sald channels and thereby direct the seed to the cups in said plate on edge, substantially as specified.

15. In a corn-planter, a seed-plate revoluble on a stationary base, having seed-cups elongated cireumferentially and arranged in sets of three lying parallel with each other, and a valve operatively carried Within a dischargeopening in the base to facilitate in dropping kernels of corn singly, or two or three, substantially as specified.

16. In a corn-planter, a seed-plate revoluble on a stationary base, having seed-cups elongated circumferentially and arranged in sets of three lying parallel, a series of annular rings extending up from the plate spaced between the seed-cups in the plate forming annular channel-Ways, a cap-plate overlying the central body part of the seed-plate and having a series of filling-plates suspended therefrom and coacting with the rings for directing grains edgewise into the seed-cups in the seed-plate, substantially as described.

17. In a corn-planter, the combination with a dropping-plate, a cap-plate having an annular ring supported away therefrom, and a series of plates suspended between the body and annular ring, substantially as described.

18. In a seed-planter, the combination of a seed-plate having a series of annular rings, seed-cups spaced between the rings, and filling-plates supported between the rings which partially overlie the seed-cups, in said plate, substantially as specified.

19. A seed-plate provided with seed-cells, annular channel-ways formed by a series of rings, and a portion of said channels contracted by the interposition of spacing-plates supported therein, substantially as specified.

20. A seed-plate for planters, having a series of annular rings, their upper edges having cut-out portions leaving intermediate extended portions of said rings as shown, and their inner faces beveled, in combination with seed-cups arranged in the body of the plate and between the rings, and filling-in plates partially overlying the seed-cups of said plate, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof we afiix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM H. WERTZ. ALBERT G. WARNER.

Witnesses:

CHAs. F. BAILEY, ROBERT N. MCCORMICK. 

